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The former Cluster Zuidin Leiden, designed by Joop van Stigt in the late 70s, consisted of seven ‘houses,’ but navigating was challenging. The two inner courtyards looked alike, and narrow corridors with many closed walls created an enclosed feel. Dark wooden slats ceilings and frosted or wired glass in partitions contributed to a gloomy atmosphere. Leiden University tasked De Zwarte Hond with improving this. The central part of the building was demolished and replaced with a new central atrium featuring a spacious main entrance. A remarkable achievement is that most of the original concrete structure and brick façade were reused.
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The client also sought better integration with the campus and the city. De Zwarte Hond designed a welcoming structure that opens to the urban environment. The entrance connects the outdoor plaza with the indoor courtyard, fostering interaction with the surroundings. More space is now available for social encounters, both inside at the coffee corner and outside at the plaza seating areas. The building is now an integral part of the inner-city campus.
From the start, we aimed to meet the high sustainability goals set for the Herta Mohr building. The result: BREEAM Excellent certification and 72% higher performance than required by law. The building addresses energy, water, materials, waste, pollution, innovation, and biodiversity. The roof holds 200 sqm green insulation and 800 sqm solar panels. Water-saving fixtures and full LED lighting minimize use. Herta Mohr is the first fully gas-free university building in Leiden’s city centre, saving 150,000 kg of CO₂ annually via a geothermal system. The climate-resilient forecourt, co-designed with Atelier Groenblauw, includes rainwater storage and bee-friendly plants, for wild bees from the Hortus. Bikes are stored below ground, making space for a green plaza linked to Singelpark.
Circular construction was central to the Herta Mohr renovation, combining sustainability, inclusivity, and heritage. Materials from the original building were carefully reused: bricks, paving stones, wooden slats, and even three iconic mushroom columns found new purpose in the renewed design. Old wooden ceiling panels—4,000 sqm of Sequoia Redwood—were transformed into decorative atrium walls. This was done in collaboration with BWRI, a work reintegration organization, whose employees stripped, cleaned, and milled the panels for prefabrication with minimal waste.
The reuse of concrete was equally thoughtful: demolished elements were crushed and applied in new finishes, ranging from exposed aggregate to smooth plank-moulded textures. Existing façade components and wooden elements were reintegrated, demonstrating that architectural heritage can align with a low-carbon future. Urban mining, in partnership with New Horizon, played a key role in sourcing reusable materials and lowering the building’s embodied footprint.
The renovation proves that concrete buildings can be both sustainable and long-lasting. Herta Mohr stands as a model for circularity—not only conserving resources but also contributing socially and architecturally to a future-proof university environment.
The university describes the transformation as spectacular. “Originally, Cluster Zuid consisted of seven buildings and two courtyards. Narrow corridors and closed walls gave it an enclosed character,” says real estate director Chris Suijker of the Leiden University. “Moreover, it no longer met environmental standards, and a thorough renovation was urgently needed.”
De Zwarte Hond is a design agency for architecture, urbanism and strategy with studios in Groningen, Rotterdam, Cologne and Berlin. Combining social engagement with design expertise, we create projects that are deeply connected to their context, responsive to users’ needs and aligned with our client’s ambitions.
We understand the layered forces at play in every location. This allows us to identify what adds value and improves quality of life — for people, streets and cities. Our work is firmly rooted, speaks the local language and stands out through subtle individuality. This arises from careful detailing, material use, the strong in–out relationship and smart spatial concepts.
We design places, buildings and environments that are anything but ordinary. Thoughtfully conceived, made to endure, and able to evolve with time and future use.
https://dezwartehond.nl/en/pro...
